Target-trap.



PATENTED JAN. 15, 1907.

A.. M. MOGREA. TARGET TRAP. APPLICATION FILED AUG.16, 1906.

WITNESSES:

niurnn STATES PATENT curios.

ARTHUR M. MCOREA, OF LAMAR, MISSOURI.

TARGET-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed August 16, 1806. Serial No; 330,904.

Patented Jan. 15,1907.

an improvement upon the trap covered by 3 Letters Patent No. 824,806, granted to me on July 3, 1906.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction of the trap by reducing the number of parts necessary to produce an ellicient device.

A still further object is to provide novel means for setting and resetting the throwingarm of the trap.

A still further object is to provide simple means for adjusting the trap to desired angles vertically and horizontally.

With the above and other objects in view 5; the invention consists of a' base on which is supported a horizontally and vertically ad- 'ustable arm, which constitutes the main ody of the tra A shaft is rotatably mounted within tlie arm and has a throwingarm movable with it. Flexible means are employed for partly rotating the shaft so as to tension 9. spring suitably connected to the shaft, and novel trigger mechanism is employed for automatically locking the throwing-arm when it has been set and for quickly releasing it whenever desired.

The invention also consists of certain other novel features of construction and combinations of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described, ,and pointed out' in the claims.

' In the accompan ing drawing, which is a perspective view 0 the target-trap, I have shown the preferred form of the invention.

Referring to said drawing by characters of reference, 1 is a base in which is swiveled a standard 2, adapted to be limited in its movement by a lug 3, which works between the ends of a curved flange 4, formed'upon the base. Standard 2 is forked at its upper end, as shown at 5, and pivoted within this fork is one end of an arm 6, which constitutes the body of the trap. This arm is adapted to be locked at any desired angle to the vertical by means of a nut 7, arranged upon the clamps the fork upon the end of the arm. An upright 9 is arranged at the free end of arm 6 and -has inwardly-extending brackets 10, in which is journaled a shaft 11, arranged 6::

at right angles to and journaled at one end within the arm 6. Said shaft has a drum or pulley 12 secured to it close to arm 6, and a collar 13 is also secured to the shaft and has an arm 14 radiating therefrom. to the upper end of shaft 11, so as to move therewith, is a throwing-arm 15, having a target-clamping jaw 16, pivotally connected to one end thereof, as shown at 17, and hav- Secured 6:

ing a curved leaf-spring 18, which is secured 70 to the base 19 of the jaw and is adapted to cooperate with a substantially cylindrical block 20 for the purpose of holding a target in position. This block is connected to a pivoted arm 21, which is of the usual con- 7 struction, such as illustrated in my patent aforesaid. An arm 22 extends from the base 19 and is connected by a tension-spring 23 with a lug 24 on the throwing-arm.

Curved supportingarms 25 are secured to 8c the arm 6, near the pivoted end thereof, and are connected at their upper endsby a pivot 26, on which is fulcrumed a lever 27. A plate 28 is secured to the lower end of this lever and from this plate extends a chain 29, which 8 5 is secured to and adapted to be wound upon the drum or pulley 12. A rod 30 is also connected to the plate 28, so that the same can be swung backward or forward by the operator'. arms 25 and has parallel ears 32 and 33 thereon,between which is pivoted a keeper 34, theupper end of which is beveled and projects into the path of the throwing-arm 15. The

A head 31 extends from one of the' o lower end of the keeper is adapted to be nor- 5 mally overlapped by a l0cking ar1n 35,which is pivoted to the upper end of lever 27 and is movably mounted Within the lower portion of the car 33. An arm 36extends down: ward from the head 31, and a screw 37 is adjustably mounted therein. An operatingspring 38 is connected at its ends to this screw and 'to the arm 14.

In order that the trap may be adjusted horizontally, an arm 39 extends laterally from arm 6 at a point adjacent the standard 2, and this arm is connected by a link 40 with a lever 41, fulcrumed between ears 42.

In using the trap herein described the tar get is pla ed within the clamping-jaw inthe usual manner and by pulling backward on pivot bolt 8, and which when tightened l the rod 30 chain 29 is unwound from the pulangle to the horizontal.

ley or drum 12, while the throwing-arm 15 is swung over-the keeper 34 and into position in rear thereof, said keeper serving to automatically lock it. This movement of the shaft 11 and arm 1.5 of course causes the arm 14 to swing toward the upright 9, and thereby tension the spring 38. By manipulating the lever 41 the trap can be swung to a desired l/Vhen the parts have been properly set, the operator pushes forward on the rod 30, a very slight movement being suflicient to pull the arm out of position in rear of keeper 34. Said keeper will therefore be relieved of its holding means and will offer no obstruction to the movement of the arm 15. Said arm can therefore be swung around by the tensioned spring 38 with sufiicient velocity to discharge. the target from between the block 20 and the spring 18. Spring 23 holds the target-clamping jaw normally in direct alinement with the throwing-arm, but'of course yields under the influence of centrifugal force during the movement of the'throwing-arm. Spring 38 is utilized to impart sufficient velocity to the throwing-arm to cause the target to discharge from the jaws, and said spring also constitutes a cushion to limit or cushion the swing ing movement of the arm during this throwing operation. It will be seen that the taret is very small and compact in structure, is

- ormed of few-parts, and can be quickly set means operated b and released.

The preferred form of the invention has been set forth in the foregoing description; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware that modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve the right to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the claims.

What is claimed is- 1. In a target-trap the combination witha body; of a shaft supported thereby, a throwing-arm movable with theshaft, a spring adapted to be tensioned by the movement-of the arm in one direction, a keeper for holding the arm against movement in one direction, an actuatin -rod, means operated by the movement of t e rod in one dlrection for swinging the arm into engagement with the keeper and tensioning the spring, and the movement of the rod in the opposite irection for releasing the keeper and freeing the arm.

2. In a target-trap the combination with a body; of a keeper pivotally supported thereabove, a locking-arm for holding the keeper against movement in one direction, a lever for actuating said arm, a throwing-arm, a combined actuating and cusbionin spring for said arm, means connected to t e lever for tensioning the spring, and means for aca shaft supported by the body, a throwingarm secured to and movable with the shaft, a pulley secured to said shaft, an arm radiating from the shaft, a combined actuating and cushioning spring connected to said arm, a a

keeper in the, path of. the throwin -arm, a locking-bar for said keeper, a lever or withdrawing the locking-bar from engagement with the keeper, a flexible connection be-- tween said lever and the for actuating the lever.

4. In a target-trap the combination'with a body, and means for adjusting the same; of

pulley, and means a throwing-arm mounted to swing. u on the body, a keeper pivotally supporte above the body and in the path of the throwingarm, a latch for holding the keeper against movement inone direction, a combined actuating and cushioning spring for the throwing-arm, and means movable in one direc tion for tensioningthe spring and swinging the arm in engagement with the keeper and movable in an opposite direction for releasing the keeper.

5. In a target-trap the combination with a body; of a throwing-arm pivotally mounted to swing upon the, body, a combined actuating and cushioning spring for said arm, a head supported above the body, a keeper pivotally connected thereto and normally extending into the ath of the arm, a latch for normally holding the keeper against.

movement in one direction, and means movable in one direction for swinging the arm into engagement with the keeper and placing the spring under tension and movable in an opposite direction for withdrawing the latch from the keeper. 7

'6. In a target-trap the combination with 'a body; of a throwing-arm mounted to swing thereon, a head rigidly supported above body, a keeper pivotally mounted non of the throwing-arm,a combined actuating and cushioning. spring for the arm,a'latch normally holding the keeper in position to lock the arm against the tension of t spring, and means movable in one direc ion for swinging the arm into engagement with the keeper and tensioning the spring and movable inan opposite direction for withdrawing the latch from the kee er.

.In testimony that claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR M. MGCREA. Witnesses:

CnAs. B. EDWARDS, F. M. @ONRAD.

head and normally projecting into t e path 

